Police hunt man after boy attacked near train crossing

A 12-year-old boy was seriously assaulted by a man on a dirt track near a rail crossing in North Lanarkshire.

Police said the suspect, who was aged between 40 and 50, targeted the boy close to the Heatherbell crossing, by Gartgill Road in Coatbridge, at about 15:30 on Friday.

The man is described as around 5ft 7in and of stocky build. He was wearing a black puffer jacket and black trousers.

The boy was taken to hospital and later released.

Officers are keen to speak to a woman who was walking a dog with a high vis harness in the area shortly before the incident happened.

Det Con Lynne Thomson said: "Inquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the assault to contact us."